Meet Cottonwood Shores council candidates

Councilman Tony Satsky’s seat at Place 1 is being challenged by Bill Plumley and Matthew Orlando. 

Place 5, held by Roger Wayson, is uncontested. 

Early voting starts Feb. 25. 

 

 

 

Mary Ann Plumley: Plumley moved to the city in 2009 and works for Lake Travis Independent School District. She served on the council in May 2011 after a special election filling the remaining term of a council member who resigned. She won the election in May 2012 and served until June 2013. Plumley founded the Cottonwood Rocks festival last year and is organizing the Rumble at the River Car Show and Concert to benefit the Cottonwood Shores Volunteer Fire Department (CWSVFD) in May. 

 

Q: What made you decide to run for city council? 

A: It is because the city is investigating a possible ESD (Emergency Services District) for Cottonwood Shores. Implementing an ESD would not benefit citizens. An ESD is a taxing entity run by a board of directors that can assess up to 10 cents per $100 valuation. It would raise everyone's taxes in the city, including people with frozen taxes. The ESD board could seek bids from other departments for fire suppression and first responder service. We have a certified volunteer fire department already waiting and ready to come to our aid.   

 

Q:  How would you be a good fit on the council? 

A: I bring several years of experience as a past Chamber of Commerce board member in the city from where I moved. Owning a business for several years also gave me different perspectives. My most important viewpoint is as homeowner. I know running a city is not easy, but there has to be a balance between city administration and citizens. The key is to work together to help the city grow, to bring more business by making it a place where people want to live or move their business.

 

Q: What should folks know about your previous service on the council? What did you accomplish? 

A: My most memorable accomplishment as a past council member was the research and eventual arrangement for the automatic meter reading (AMR) meters now used in the city. It has helped our public works department immensely. My previous tenure on council proves I have the ability to work for the citizens. 

 

Q: What would be your goals as a council member? 

A: My long-term goals are to work together with the current council to help the city grow and bring in more businesses. The spaces available for business owners are not abundant and space that is here is often cost prohibitive. We should make more rental space available by developing more storefront spaces. My short-term goal would be to talk with business owners to make a list of their wants and needs so we can keep businesses here and happy with the city as a whole. 

 

Q: How do you see the future of the city, and how would you contribute to that future?

A: Currently, I feel our city, businesses and citizens need to work on having a more united relationship. However we accomplish that is up for grabs, but it needs to happen.

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Cheryl (Cheri) Mott Trinidad: Trinidad, a district manager with the Dollar General Corporation, has served on the city council since being appointed in 2013 to replace a council member who left the state. She was elected to the city council in May, 2014. Trinidad has lived in Cottonwood Shores since 2006. Soon after moving, Trinidad joined the Highland Lakes Health Partnership, Highland Lakes Service League and helped open the first rural Walgreen’s. She has been in management since 1988. 

 

Q: What made you decide to run for another term on the city council? 

A: I want to remain on City Council because the council matters to out city's quality of life and its future. I believe with my skills, knowledge, and experience I can promote Cottonwood Shores’ quality of life, and I can continue to help the council become more effective by doing it's job benefitting the citizens. The council performs three crucial functions that no other body can perform: representation, legislation and oversight.

 

Q: What have been your achievements as a council member? 

A: I have been part of a city council that has improved the city’s financial standing, which in turn has improved our roads, our parks and our water plant. 

 

Q:  How are you a good fit on the council? 

A: I have a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University. My education and work history assist me in budgeting, planning, fiscal responsibility, human resources and conflict resolution.

 

Q: What are your goals as a council member? 

A: In the short term, I think we should complete the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements needed on our parks. Improving infrastructure is needed for the long-term growth of the city. 

 

Q: How do you see the future of the city, and how would you contribute to that future? 

A: I believe Cottonwood Shores will become a preferred place to live in Highland Lakes. It will be the place to build, raise a family and retire. The city maintains our taxes to be affordable but continue to grow and meet our citizen’s needs.  

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Bill Plumley: Plumley has lived in Cottonwood Shores since 2000 and is vice president of the Cottonwood Shores Volunteer Fire Department Board of Directors. He served 3 terms on the city council (2004-2006, 2008-2010, and 2011-2013), including a role as mayor pro tem. He works for Bass Pro Shops in Round Rock. 

 

Q: What made you decide to run for city council? 

A: Deciding to run for council came after a lot of personal reflection. After witnessing the division within Cottonwood Shores I felt I needed to help make some positive changes.

 

Q:  How would you be a good fit on the council? 

A: I believe I have the ability to look at both sides of an issue, and be able to make a decision based on the information at hand and considering what would be the best decision for the citizens. I would not make decisions based on what is best for me. 

 

Q: What should folks know about your previous service on the council? What did you accomplish? 

A: During my three different terms on the city council I always tried to work with my fellow council members for the betterment of the city. One of the accomplishments I was happy to be part of was freezing city property taxes for citizens over 65. I'm not sure that my role will be a lot different in a fourth term, but I still want to strive to build a better city.

 

Q: What would be your goals as a council member? 

A: As I'm sure every council member has said before, one of my goals would be to continue to get streets paved. The other goals would be solving drainage issues and getting overgrown lots cleaned up. It would be beneficial not only aesthetically but from a fire mitigation viewpoint as well.

 

Q: How do you see the future of the city, and how would you contribute to that future? 

A: I believe the future of the city is in the city's hands. I know of some new development that's being planned and I would like to help in the processes to "Build a Bigger and Better City."

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Tony Satsky:  Satsky is seeking his second term on the city council after being elected to in May, 2014 in an uncontested race. He is retired from service with the Texas Workforce Commission as a facilities manager. He has lived in his Cottonwood Shores home for nearly 20 years. 

 

Q: What made you decide to run for another term on the city council? 

A: I want to preserve the integrity of the city that I live in and care for. 

 

Q: What have been your achievements as a council member? 

A: I have exerted influence on this administration to clean up the city and focus on fire prevention. 

 

Q:  How are you a good fit on the council? 

A: There are four main reasons I’m a good fit. I share common values with this administration. I have a bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara. I owned my own company for 30 years and retired from the State of Texas.

 

Q: What are your goals as a council member? 

A: My goals are to serve the needs of our great community now and in the future.

 

Q: How do you see the future of the city, and how will you contribute to that future? 

A: I see the City of Cottonwood Shores becoming a garden city in Central Texas and a desirable place to live. A good city administration can help create a good place to live.  

 

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Matthew Orlando: Orlando is the owner of On The Rocks restaurant. He has lived in the city for a year and has run the business for nearly 6 years. 

 

Q: What made you decide to run for city council? 

A: I believe this city has a lot of potential. However, I hear residents complain about taxes, animal control and permitting difficulties in the city. I also feel the city is not as business-friendly as it should be. 

 

Q:  How would you be a good fit on the council? 

A: My experience comes from years of running On The Rocks. I understand how to get things done within a strict budget. I believe being young brings a different viewpoint, and the fact that I have not been on a city council before is a plus. I want change, not just the same things we've been doing. I respect the current council members but I think we need to diversify so that everyone's voice is heard.

 

Q: What would be your goals as a council member? 

A: Getting the roads paved and bringing in development to attract more businesses is important so we don't have to raise taxes. It would be great to diversify the types of business coming into the city also. I would expand the police department to 24 hours on-duty. Cottonwood Shores has had a bad reputation for drugs in the past, and though it's getting better, criminals know we have only a daytime police department. The current officers are doing a great job, but having officers patrol 24/7 would let criminals know we're not going to tolerate anything here.  It also would make the city more inviting to families. We need a business alliance, with free and voluntary membership, to give a voice for business owners and promote incoming businesses.  

 

Q: How do you see the future of the city, and how would you contribute to that future?

A: I think Cottonwood Shores has the potential to grow rapidly. Being between Horseshoe Bay and Marble Falls, Cottonwood Shores is a great place for families and businesses. I want to make the city more business-friendly to bring more tax revenue.